Spring 2007issue #12Stinging Nettlesby
Cornelis van Dalen, ND DipHom
This
is a tale with a sting. The Goddess S frequently proclaims that she
wishes to be thrashed with them, as were the Roman soldiers to improve
circulation, to keep warm in the cold English climate, and other
manifold reasons. Nettles grow everywhere; enjoy their presence in the
garden.

Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist named the stinging
nettle Urtica dioica; dioica meaning ‘two houses’ as the nettle plant
will either bear male or female flowers. Urtica urens, lesser nettle,
is the other widespread variety. One needs to know the difference: the
latter urens is used in homoeopathy, whereas the taller dioica is used
for biodynamic compost preparation. But for the purposes of free food
and home medicine, either will do, as we shall see later.

“One
day he (Monsieur Madeleine) saw some peasants busy plucking out
Nettles; he looked at the heap of plants uprooted and withered, and
said – ‘They are dead. Yet it would be well if people knew how to make
use of them. When the nettle is young, its leaves form an excellent
vegetable; when it matures, it has filaments and fibres like hemp and
flax. Nettle fabric is good as canvas. Chopped, the nettle is good for
poultry; pounded good for cattle. The seed of the nettle mingled with
fodder imparts a gloss to the coat of animals; its root mixed with salt
produces a beautiful yellow colour. It is besides excellent hay and can
be cut twice. And what does the nettle require? Little earth, no
attention, no cultivation. Only the seed falls as it ripens, and it is
difficult to gather. That is all. With a little trouble, the nettle
would be useful; it is neglected, and becomes harmful.” [1]

This
short passage from Victor Hugo sums up bountiful Nature. What is weed
and despised is actually rather important. In the early years of the
20th century nettle was also used for the production of sugar, protein,
starch and ethyl alcohol (now called biofuel). Behold, this may yet
return! And the cloth it once made was considered only slightly
inferior to silk, as well as made into the coarseness of canvas,
sacking and rope. Flax (linen) and hemp (jute) were introduced to
replace it. It was said to be difficult to extract the fibre from
nettle, hence it was supplanted by flax and hemp. [2]

Nettles as a source of health and healing “In
the spring, when the snow has melted and the warm wind thaws the
ground, life once again begins to stir in Mother Nature’s womb. On
sunny slopes, steep paths and even on disused refuse heaps, the green,
finely serrated leaves of the nettle appear. Hardly anyone notices it,
but it quietly grows while using its juices to produce a medicine than
can bring health to many, and even save lives. If only people knew the
benefits of this plant and used it. Many a sufferer of tuberculosis
would not have died had he gone out of his way to gather nettles and
avail himself of their goodness. How many children might have had their
waxen looks changed and their red cheeks restored, if only their
parents had realised what wonderful medicinal value the despised nettle
has to offer. No other plant can equal the nettle as a remedy for
anaemia, rickets, scrofula, respiratory diseases and, especially,
lymphatic problems.” [3]

While this ebullient rendition of the
virtue of nettle by Alfred Vogel was obviously written many years ago,
since rickets and scrofula are not as prevalent as such, the substance
of this plant is still invaluable – perhaps more so. It may be that
where you live it is not growing or there is no space, but do journey
somewhere it is growing, especially now in the spring, and harvest a
handful for culinary or medicinal purpose. As soon as the plant wilts
it looses its sting (mostly).

Vogel also notes that its rich
mineral content – silica, calcium, phosphorous, iron and others, but
also vitamin D which is only available in a small number of plants. It
is accepted that vitamin D is synthesised in the human body from
sunlight. Sunlight is especially important for rickets, scrofula
(tuberculosis (TB) of the lymphatic), and lung TB, as the old
Naturopathic treatments attest.

He tells the story of a man
whose wife was dying of lung TB. After hearing him speak of nettles in
a lecture, the man went home and gave his wife fresh nettles every day,
either chopped in her soup or as raw juice. To everyone’s astonishment,
including the doctors, the man’s wife regained her health. The hunt for
nettles may be difficult or easy; they are usually here from spring
(late March this year) up until November or December, if I recall. A
tablespoon per day for an adult and half to one teaspoon for a child
has sufficient medicinal properties to take effect, says Vogel.

Young
nettles can be chopped finely as garnish or in salad, or the juice can
be mixed in soup. You will save on the purchase of imported parsley,
and also be rewarded with vitality. Steamed it tastes like spinach.
Young stinging nettles boiled in milk has been found to be useful for
constipation. After removing the nettles drink the milk every morning.
Also useful for migraines with accompanying bilious vomiting.

The vitamin and mineral foodThe
reason Vogel speaks so highly of nettle is its mineral content –
especially calcium and iron and is used for anaemia and calcium
disorders. Nettle is a key ingredient in Vogel’s calcium preparation
Urticalcin.

From his vast experience as a Nature doctor, he
knew the many signs of calcium insufficiency in the human organism. In
children, calcium deficiency makes them susceptible to catarrh, with
every cold draught posing a threat. In adults too, the demand for
calcium is great in this age of nervousness and tension. [4]

Here
is a valuable recipe for children’s growing demands, especially if
indicated by frequent colds and perhaps a seeming lack of vitality and
learning ability. Pick young fresh nettles, and take some eggs shells –
if you live by the sea use oyster shells – crush shells and nettles
together, and leave to dry in the air. A light green powder will
result, once pulverised. The child should take half a teaspoon of this
two or three times a day. After a few months the teeth will improve and
be noticeably stronger, colds and catarrh formation diminish. [5]

On
the subject of eggshells, Mrs Thun mentioned that one should never
throw away the water in which an egg is boiled – cook with it or give
it to houseplants (after it has cooled, obviously). The water has all
the mineral qualities of eggshells. [6] It is better than the egg.
Think of it as a homoeopathic-like (attenuated) substance. Also, dry
the eggshells, grind them, and add a teaspoonful to a kilogramme of
bread flour.

Nettle in the form of an infusion (as one would
make tea) provides an excellent hair tonic, especially in the case of
skin eruptions on the scalp.

Homoeopathy makes use of Urtica
Urens known as the Lesser Nettle. The fresh plant extract – the mother
tincture – is used for agalactia (diminished secretion or absence of
milk in mothers) and for arthritic ailments, inflamed joints of a gouty
nature, diminished urine with increased sedimentation and bladder
irritation. Dr Subrata Banerjea names Urtica urens as a leading
anti-sycotic remedy. This makes the nettle truly a remedy for our age.